Govt finalising master plan to strengthen tourism sector: State minister

The government has almost completed drafting a master plan for developing a sustainable tourism industry in the country, State Minister for Tourism Md Mahbub Ali said Thursday at the inaugural ceremony of Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair.
This three-day fair has been organised by Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh, at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital.
The government has realised the potentials of tourism in advancing the national economy and helping build a smart Bangladesh, and is thus working to expand the industry on a priority-basis, Mahbub Ali said. Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, chief executive officer of the state-run Bangladesh Tourism Board, said that under the master plan, the government has identified 53 special geographical clusters for developing as tourism hubs and, to this end, is improving road connectivity, telecommunication infrastructure, accommodation facilities, and hospitality facilities in these regions. The state minister also referred to the three under-development exclusive tourism parks as key features of the government’s vision to improve the tourism industry.
There was 146 stalls and 14 pavilions in this year’s tourism fair with industry players from India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Japan and Turkey participating among others. National tourism organisations, tourism associations, tour operators, travel agents and airlines as well as operators of hotels, resorts and hospitals attractive packages in the fair with special discount offers.